California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized fellow Democrats for considering blocking former President Donald Trump from California's 2024 presidential primary ballot, stating that they should defeat candidates at the polls rather than through undemocratic means. Newsom expressed his belief that Trump posed a threat to democracy and urged his party to focus on addressing that issue rather than engaging in political distractions.

The momentum to remove Trump from the ballot began after Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis sent a letter to California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber, urging her to explore legal options for removing the former President based on the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling in Anderson v. Griswold. Kounalakis emphasized the importance of protecting democracy and honoring the rule of law in the country.

Newsom's comments came following the recent Colorado Supreme Court ruling that disqualified Trump from the state's ballot based on the U.S. Constitution's insurrection clause. The court argued that Trump's actions played a role in the deadly January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The ruling received condemnation from various members of the Republican Party, while Trump's rivals for the party's presidential nomination quickly rallied around him.

While California had been considering following Colorado's lead, Newsom rejected the idea, stating that it was undemocratic. He highlighted that Trump's disqualification from Colorado's ballot was still pending a final ruling from the Supreme Court. Other states, including New York, are also exploring the possibility of barring Trump from their ballots.

The news report requested comments from both Newsom and Kounalakis, but they did not immediately respond. The report also acknowledged the contribution of Fox News' Paul Steinhauser to the information provided.